Category: Skin Issues

Did you know there’s a name for the super swollen male parts from bug bites? Actually two names: Summer Penile Syndrome and Lion Mane’s Penis. Doctors might even call it seasonal acute hypersensitivity reaction. If you’ve ever seen it, you know it can be quite impressive.

What is summer penile syndrome?

Summer penile syndrome is a fairly common concern during the summer months. It’s usually due to a chigger bite on the sensitive skin of the penis or scrotum. You can often find a small bug bite near the center of the swelling.

They can itch like crazy, but usually don’t interfere with urinating.

Despite the significant swelling, there isn’t usually much pain, only itching. Unless there’s a secondary infection, there won’t be any fever.

What is a chigger?

Chiggers are a type of mite, which is an arachnid in the same family as spiders and ticks. They are also called harvest mites, harvest bugs, harvest lice, mower’s mites, or red bugs. Chiggers are so small they often go unnoticed until several hours after they attach to our skin. They can attach even under clothing, and the most common places that we notice chigger bites are in the areas of our pants.

Chiggers live in moist, grassy and wooded areas. They are commonly found in the warm summer months.

Adult chiggers don’t bite. It’s the larvae that cause itchy problems. The larvae are red, orange, yellow, or straw-colored, and no more than 0.3 millimeters long.

Chigger. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:File-Chigger_bite.svgAfter crawling onto the skin, the larvae inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. They do not actually bite the host even though the bumps are called chigger bites. They form a hole in the skin called a stylostome. Their saliva goes into deep skin layers, which results in severe irritation and swelling.

People usually start to itch within a few hours and often scratch the feeding chiggers away. A hot shower with plenty of soap will kill chiggers and prevent them from finishing their meal, so showering after being in grassy or wooded areas can help prevent deeper reactions.

The good news is that in the US, chiggers are not known to carry diseases.

Prevention

Even though they don’t cause disease, chigger bites are something to avoid because they can cause significant itching for weeks.

Bug sprays with DEET will deter the chiggers. DEET is approved for use in children over 2 months of age.

Clothing can be treated with permethrin to avoid ticks and chiggers. Permethrin can be purchased at sporting goods stores to pre-treat your clothing. It should not be used directly on skin. Once dried into the clothing, permethrin will last for about six washings. You can also treat your shoes, which makes a lot of sense since chiggers are usually found in the grass and crawl up onto your skin.

Even untreated clothing can help a little if you don’t have time to pre-treat with permethrin. Wear long sleeves and long pants. Be sure to tuck the pant legs into your socks so they can’t enter from the bottom leg hole.

How do you treat chigger bites?

Much like any bug bite, control of the itch is important. If kids scratch any itch, it can become secondarily infected from the break in the skin allowing germs in.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are used for allergic reactions. We commonly use them for seasonal allergies, but they can help most allergy reactions.

Bug bites itch when our bodies react to the saliva injected into our skin with histamine. Histamine is our body’s allergic response and it itches. If you aren’t allergic to the bite, you won’t itch from it. This is the way we react to allergies, which is why we get itchy eyes and noses with allergies to pollen.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a short acting antihistamine that can help control allergic reactions, but tends to make kids tired or wired. It also only lasts a few hours, which can require frequent dosing.

I don’t like topical antihistamines, which are often sold to treat bug bites. I worry that kids will get too much of the medicine when it is applied to each bite. It’s a low risk, but still a risk. Just because they aren’t taking it by mouth doesn’t mean it isn’t absorbed. Children using a topical antihistamine for an extended time over large areas of the skin (especially areas with broken skin) may be at higher risk, especially if they also are using other diphenhydramine products taken by mouth or applied to the skin.

I am a fan of using an oral long-acting antihistamine, such as cetirizine or loratadine, to treat bug bites. Most kids with one bug bite have many. One dose of an oral antihistamine helps to control the overall histamine reaction, making each bite itch less.

Antibiotics

Despite the significant swelling, these usually do not require prescription antibiotics.

If your child has open areas from scratching the skin, you should keep the area clean and consider using a topical antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection.

Steroids

Over the counter topical hydrocortisone is a very low dose steroid. It can be used on insect bites to help stop the itch.

Stronger steroids that require prescriptions are occasionally used, but you will need to see your physician to discuss the risks and benefits of prescription steroids.

Oatmeal baths

Soaking in an oatmeal bath might help the itching. It works very well for dry skin conditions and sunburn relief as well.

You can buy commercially made oatmeal bath products or you can grind regular plain oats to make it fine enough that it dissolves in bath water. Test a small amount in a cup of water to see if it’s finely ground enough before putting 1 cup of oats into the bath water.

Some people have even made a paste of oats and applied it directly to the itchy skin for relief.

Baking soda

Another kitchen remedy for bug bite itch relief is baking soda. Mix a pinch of baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste. Put this paste on the bites. Reapply as needed.

Ice or cool cloth

One more kitchen treatment is ice. Many kids won’t tolerate this one, but if they can’t tolerate an ice pack placed over clothing, you can try applying a cool wet washcloth directly to the skin.

When should you see your doctor?

If your child has any of the following symptoms, talk with your doctor.

There are many causes of swollen eyelids in kids (and adults). The good news is that the most common ones are usually not serious. Some swellings herald warning though and should be properly evaluated and treated by a doctor.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a more serious allergic reaction. It involves swelling of the eyelids, throat, and airways.

This is a medical emergency. If epinephrine is available, don’t hesitate to use it. Call 911.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids that can cause swollen lids. It often includes flaky eyelid skin and loss of the lashes.

This chronic condition should be managed by an eye care specialist.

Bug Bites

Bug bites are the most common cause of swollen eyelids we see in our office. Usually there is a known exposure to insects and there may be other bug bites on the body.

Bug bites on the eyelid tend to itch rather than hurt despite the significant swelling they produce. There should be no fever or other signs of illness. The eyeball should move freely in the socket. (See “orbital cellulitis” below.)

Treatment of bug bites involves cool compresses and oral antihistamines. Occasionally oral steroids are required for significant swelling, but they require a prescription.

If the swelling is concerning to you or your child, bring him in to be seen.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, causes inflammation of the surface of the eye ball and sometimes a puffy appearance to the eye lids. It can be from bacteria, virus, or allergies.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes the whites of the eyes to look red and includes a yellow discharge from the eye. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops.

Viral conjunctivitis causes the white of the eye to look red, but there is no yellow discharge. This does not require antibiotic eye drops.

If unsure which type your child has, or if it is probably bacterial, see your doctor.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can contribute to swollen eyes if they are dirty or damaged.

If you suspect problems with your contacts or your eyes continue to bother you and you wear contacts, see your eye doctor.

Crying

Crying can cause the eyelids to become puffy. The lacrimal glands produce an overflow of tears, so the fine tissues around the eyes absorb the fluid, causing them to appear swollen. This is compounded by the autonomic nervous system increasing blood flow to the face during times of strong emotion and rubbing the eyes to wipe away the tears. This cause of swelling is short lived.

Cool compresses and avoidance of rubbing can help decrease the swelling.

Graves’ Disease (Thyroid)

Graves’ disease can cause the appearance of swollen eyelids and protruding eyes. Sometimes a drooping eyelid or double vision occurs. It is caused by thyroid problems, which also can cause problems with appetite, fatigue, heat intolerance, and more.

These symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.

Kidney Problems

Kidney problems can lead to fluid retention. If the eyes are puffy along with puffiness of the ankles or swelling of the abdomen, then kidney problems should be considered. Children can develop this suddenly from infections, like certain diarrheal illnesses or Strep throat. The urine may look tea colored or like it has blood in it.

This is a medical emergency and you should seek care immediately.

Sinus Infections

Sinus infections can cause puffy, swollen eyelids. Congestion, runny nose, headache, postnasal drip, and cough are typical symptoms. It must be present for a minimum of 10 days, but sometimes these symptoms happen with a viral upper respiratory tract infection.

See your doctor if you suspect sinusitis.

Styes and chalazion

Styes look like a swelling at the edge of the eyelid, often red or pink with a small white central area. It is caused by a blockage in one of the small glands in the eyelid. They can be painful or tender.

Another swelling from blockage of oil glands of the eyelid is a chalazion. These do not typically hurt but they can cause the whole eyelid to swell significantly.

Applying warm packs to the area several times per day often helps treat styes. Chalazions more often need to see an ophthalmologist for treatment.

If a stye persists beyond a few months or the lid swells to cover the pupil, see your doctor.

Trauma

Trauma of the eye or nose, like any trauma, can cause swelling. A broken nose can cause swelling and bruising to the eyelids.

Any significant trauma to the eye or nose should be seen by a doctor. Symptoms may include vision changes, chemical exposure, foreign body in the eye, blood in the eye, severe pain, or nausea or vomiting after injury.

Ocular Herpes

Ocular herpes is an infection of the eye by the herpes virus. (Not all herpes infections are sexually transmitted!) It can appear initially like a blister or cluster of blisters near the eye.

It can lead to permanent damage to the eye, so prompt care by an ophthalmologist is important.

Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital cellulitis is a potentially serious infection of the eyelids. The infection can extend behind the eyes, causing meningitis.

It is suspected when there is painful swelling of the upper and lower eyelids, fever, bulging eyes, vision problems, and pain with eye movement. Inability to move the eyes is a serious symptom.

This is a medical emergency and if suspected, prompt medical attention is warranted. Treatment involves iv antibiotics. To assess the extent of swelling, imaging is often done.

Ptosis

Ptosis, or drooping of the eyelid, can look like a swollen lid. There are many causes and this should be evaluated by an eye specialist.

I see a lot of kids with circles under their eyes. There’s a lot of confusion as to what causes them. Dark circles under the eyes may simply be hereditary – a trait that runs in families, but they also can signify chronic disease.

I’ll cover some causes that are feared but not likely and common causes that can be treated to help decrease the dark appearance of the circles.

Not likely causes

Anemia

Many parents worry that anemia, or a low red blood cell count, is causing their child’s under eye circles. I’m not sure why this thought is so prevalent, but it’s not the first thing I think about when I see dark circles under the eyes of a child.

Iron deficiency is linked to anemia because iron is a building block of a red blood cell. Iron deficiency is relatively common in kids due to poor diet, so if your kids don’t eat foods rich in iron, you should talk to their doctor.

Anemia can happen in kids, but if under eye circles is the only symptom, it’s not likely. If there are other symptoms then blood work might be indicated.

Symptoms of anemia may include:

Pale skin, including the inner eyelids

Irritability

Feeling tired or having low energy

Poor focus and attention

Weakness

Craving of ice or eating non-food items (pica)

Rarely (with more severe anemia)

Yellow jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)

Rapid heart rate

Fast breathing

Swelling of hands, feet, or puffy eyelids

Poor sleep

Yes, we often think of circles under the eyes from poor sleep. Poor sleep is not usually the cause of under eye circles in a child, especially when they otherwise appear well rested.

Kids who have chronically poor sleep can appear tired and sluggish, but they also have other symptoms, such as irritability, hyperactivity, poor school performance, and increased injuries.

Vitamin deficiency

There are many products containing various vitamins that are sold to help decrease under eye circles, but evidence is lacking that vitamin deficiencies are common causes of under eye circles in children.

Unless there are other significant problems, it is not recommended to check vitamin levels to evaluate under eye circles.

If your child is a picky eater and has a limited intake of nutrients, talk to your pediatrician.

What does cause dark under eye circles?

The skin under the eyes is very thin, so when blood passes through the thin skin it can produce a dark color, much like the blue color of your veins. If the blood circulation slows, the blue color can be more noticeable.

Congestion in your sinuses can lead to congestion in the small veins under your eyes. The blood collects in the skin under your eyes and these swollen veins dilate and darken. This creates the effect of dark circles and puffiness.

Dark circles are of course more noticeable in fair skinned people.

The most common cause of under eye circles is chronic congestion, but chronic congestion can be from various causes.

Allergic shiners

Allergies are probably the most common cause of dark circles under the eyes, so the circles are also called “allergic shiners.” They get this name due to the purplish hue of the skin, resembling a black eye, AKA “shiner.”

If allergies are the cause, you will usually see other symptoms of allergy, such as

Upper respiratory tract infections

Viruses that cause nasal congestion can also lead to dark circles under the eyes. These can be brief if the cold clears quickly, or seem to come and go with recurrent infections, as often happens during the cold and flu season.

Sinus infections can cause chronic congestion, leading to dark under eye circles.

Smoke exposure

Smokers and their children often have chronic congestion.

Studies show that second hand smoke leads to more frequent upper respiratory tract infections and ear infections in kids. It’s not surprising that these kids also develop chronic circles under their eyes.

If chronically congested or mouth breathing, talk to your child’s doctor to find and address a cause

Avoid smoke and secondhand smoke, which lead to chronic congestion

Use moisturizers if skin is dry

Avoid pollution as much as possible, since it can contribute to chronic congestion

Saline rinses

I often refer to Nasopure’s website because it has great instructions on how to rinse the nose for kids as young as 2 years of age. It also has videos to help kids get comfortable with the idea. I refer to the site simply because I like it, and I receive no compensation for the recommendation.

I do participate in the Amazon Affiliate program, and if you use one of these links to purchase a nasal wash kit, I do make a small profit. As always, I only link to products that I endorse regardless of where you purchase it.

Dry skin is often called eczema or atopic dermatitis. Whatever you call it, it’s itchy and annoying! We see it year round for various reasons. Managing it can be tricky, but there are things to do to help.

Eczema’s Snowball effect

It’s really important to keep skin well hydrated or it tends to snowball. The dry skin is broken skin, which allows water to escape, which further dries it, which leads to more evaporation…. Broken skin is more likely to become secondarily infected, which leads to more problems….

Itching dry skin also contributes to its worsening by further damaging the skin and allowing more water to evaporate, so try to keep fingers from scratching! (I know this is easier said than done.)

Eczema is not simply dry skin. It can cause significant distress to infants and children. The itch from eczema can impair sleep. It can distract from learning at school. Children with eczema have higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Eczema’s a chronic condition

Eczema doesn’t simply go away with good treatment: it can come and go even with the best treatment. It can therefore be a serious problem for families.

Your goal with dry skin is to hydrate it as much as possible to repair the skin barrier. We don’t always think about skin as an organ (like the heart and liver), but it is. Its functions are to help keep us at a normal temperature, to keep stuff (such as bones, blood, and nerves) inside our bodies, and it helps to keep some things (such as germs) out of our bodies. When skin is excessively dry, there is inflammation and cracking. This keeps the skin from doing its job. We must try to get it back to normal so it can help keep the rest of our body healthy.

causes of eczema

Eczema can be from many factors.

There is a genetic component, so if a parent or sibling has eczema, it is common for other family members to have it.

It is often worsened by environment, both cold dry air and excessive heat.

Clothing can irritate some skin, depending on the fabric and the detergent left in the fibers.

Any scented lotions or soaps can also irritate skin. (Don’t be fooled that “baby” soaps and lotions are better for baby. I usually say to avoid any of the baby products because they’re often scented. They make them to sell them, not to be better for baby’s skin!)

Allergies can exacerbate eczema.

Saliva is very harsh on the skin. Drooling can cause problems around the mouth, chin, and chest. Thumb or finger suckers often have red, thick scaly areas on the preferred finger from the drying effects of saliva.

foods and eczema

Ankles, elbows, and knees are common sites for eczema in babies.

The latest AAP eczema guidelines downplay the need to alter foods to treat the skin. There are some kids who have true food allergies that manifest as atopic dermatitis (dry skin), but the large majority of kids do not. Restricting their diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies without any benefit. Talk to you doctor if you think a food might be exacerbating your child’s dry skin.

My tips for treating dry skin:

Avoid Soaps

Avoid exposures to soaps because they further damage skin. Non-soap cleansers that are fragrance free are much more mild on the skin.

Soaks

Soaking in bath water or in the shower can help hydrate the skin. After bathing the skin should be only briefly dried (remove large water droplets, but allow the skin to still be moist with water) and moisturizers (with or without steroids) must be applied immediately afterwards to prevent water from evaporating out of skin.

steroids

Steroids can be used for flares. They are available in 7 different strength categories. The stronger the steroid, the less often it should be used.

Over the counter hydrocortisone is a very mild steroid and can be used twice a day with mild flares.

Stronger (prescription) steroids should be discussed with your doctor if the eczema is more severe, but they can be safe and effective when used appropriately.

Bleach

Yes, bleach. Like what you use in the laundry or in the swimming pool. The bleach is thought to kill superficial bacteria that contribute to the chronic condition.

Bleach baths have been shown to help in moderate to severe eczema. Add 2 ounces of bleach to the bath water and soak the body (not the face) for 20 minutes a few times a week.

Antihistamines

Oral antihistamines, such as zyrtec, allegra, or claritin (or any of their generics) can help control the itch.

I recommend the long acting antihistamines over the short acting ones, especially overnight, to avoid gaps in dosing leading to the itch/scratch cycle despite the fact that diphenhydramine (Benadryl) works a little better for a few hours. Avoid topical antihistamines due to variable absorption from disrupted skin.

Increase the humidity

Add water to the air during the dry months. If your air conditioner is running you shouldn’t need (or want) to add humidity. If your heat is on, you might have an attached humidifier, which is great. You can also buy a room humidifier or vaporizer to add water to the air. When there’s more water in the air, the skin will have less evaporation.

More water

Use wet water cloths on dry patches. This can help get a child through an itchy time with a cool compress. It also helps hydrate the skin.

Since it might remove the moisturizer, re-apply moisturizer when the wet cloth is removed.

Some kids benefit from wet wraps. This is time intensive, but very effective, so worth trying for more severe eczema patches.

Limit scratching

If your child just can’t stop itching, be sure nails are clipped to help avoid scratching.

Sleeping with socks or mittens helps the inadvertent scratching during sleep. Many kids remove these, so sewing an old pair of socks onto the arms of long sleeve PJs can help. (Don’t forget to put moisturizer on first!)

Remove saliva

If your child drools or sucks a finger, wipe the saliva off regularly and protect the skin with petrolatum jelly.

Products that I recommend

I only recommend products that I would recommend regardless of where you purchase, but if you use these links I will get a small fee for the referral. They should all be available at local stores too. They are in no particular order.

A relatively new development in the treatment of trichotillomania and other BFRBs is a supplement called N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Learn more. #trichotillomania #NAC #hairpulling #nailbiting

I see several kids each year who pull hair from their scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes. This is called trichotillomania (sometimes shortened to trich). Treatment has historically been cognitive behavioral therapy, but I’ve seen good results with a supplement called n-acetylcysteine.

Disclaimer

Because I see families struggle with this and other similar issues, I’m breaking my general rule of blogging within the realm of standard guidelines and am going outside of conventional medical advice to talk about an interesting new treatment that is showing positive benefit with studies. I say this only to caution the reader that you should discuss this with your child’s doctor about it and to remind you not to take this (or anything else I write) as medical advice.

Body Focused Repetitive Disorders

Trichotillomania is more common in children who have anxiety, and it can also lead to more anxiety from the social isolation and bullying that result from hair loss. It’s a vicious circle where the self-inflicted hair loss is in itself distressing, but that distress leads to more pulling. Cutting hair short isn’t an effective treatment.

Do dietary changes help?

There have been conflicting studies that suggest avoiding certain foods can help prevent the urges to pull hair. Some people report that avoiding sugar and caffeine helps. Since added sugar and caffeine are not parts of a healthy diet, I think whether or not it helps, avoiding added sugar and caffeine is a good idea for all kids.

Therapy

The first treatment recommended for trich (as well as other body focused repetitive behaviors -BFRB) is therapy.

Treating BFRB should involve cognitive behavioral therapy or habit reversal therapy from a trained therapist with experience in this issue. During therapy they will learn to identify emotions, label them, and appropriately address them. In habit reversal therapy they learn to do another action instead of the hair pulling (or nail biting/skin picking). This might mean clenching fists, playing with play doh, or another activity.

Family support can help ease the anxieties that are caused by the behavior itself and it is important that family members praise the positive steps along the journey. There are support groups available in many areas.

What about supplements?

A relatively new development in the treatment of trichotillomania and other BFRBs is a supplement called N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutamate modulator.

I’ve been recommending NAC for awhile now for trichotillomania (as well as nail biting and OCD) and have had mixed response, but overall positive. For those who did not find it helpful, I suspect they did not use it long enough since it can take over a month to see benefit. I think parents like the fact that it is a supplement, which is easier to provide than behavioral therapy, but therapy is still an important part of the treatment. Those who have the best results do therapy along with the supplement.

How long does it take to see results with NAC?

It takes about a month or two (studies show 4-9 weeks) of NAC to show benefit. Taking a supplement for that length of time without benefit can be difficult and might cause some to quit prematurely, but I’d recommend at least two months before deciding it doesn’t work.

Talk with your child’s doctor before starting any supplement and before stopping it.

How much NAC do you give?

Most studies have been done in adults, so the best pediatric dose is not known. For adults and children over about 45 pounds, 600 – 2400 mg has been studied, but no ideal dose is known. It has been suggested about 60mg/kg/day for younger children, but there is no standard dose.

It may also be difficult to give to a child who cannot swallow the capsules. While in theory the capsule could be opened (and the powder is available in bulk), the taste and smell is of rotten eggs, so I cannot imagine a child taking it mixed in food or drink. Tips on teaching kids to swallow pills is covered here.

One dosing strategy for children over 45 pounds is to give a 600 mg capsule twice per day (1200 mg) for a week and increasing to 2 capsules twice per day (2400 mg) after 4 weeks if needed. I have also seen titration methods, beginning with one capsule daily for the first week (600mg), then one capsule twice a day for the 2nd week (1200mg), then 3 capsules divided in 2 unequal doses (1800 mg) for the 3rd week and 4 capsules divided in 2 doses (2 capsules twice per day = 2400 mg) thereafter.

Before starting…

Talk with your child’s pediatrician before beginning any supplement, even though they are sold over the counter. This helps your child’s doctor know more about what is going on, what works and what doesn’t for your child, and to help monitor for possible reactions if they are known (especially if your child is on prescription medicines).

Is NAC safe with other medicines?

NAC might interact with other medicines, so it is recommended to discuss interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.

Since antidepressants are often used in anxiety disorders such as trichotillomania, I have tried to see what interactions might be known. Research has shown that rats need lower doses of imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant I don’t use in kids) and escitalopram (Lexapro, an SSRI antidepressant) when taking NAC, but NAC doesn’t affect the dose of desipramine (another tricyclic antidepressant) and bupropion (Wellbutrin). In contrast, NAC in the rats actually made fluoxetine (prozac) less effective, so higher doses were needed. Obviously people are not rats, and this is an area that needs to be further studied, but if your child is on any prescription medicines, be sure your doctor and pharmacist know that he is starting NAC.

If anyone knows of human studies or more information, please post in the comments below!

How long will NAC be needed?

It is thought that NAC is safe long term and might be needed long term since the underlying anxiety does not go away, only the symptoms are controlled with the NAC. This is an important reason to do the therapy too, since learning techniques to identify and appropriately deal with stressors can help life long without side effects.

When NAC is stopped, symptoms might return. I will often suggest a trial off NAC once all habits being treated have been gone for at least a month.

Weaning to a lesser dose for a few weeks is one way to test without going completely off, and I find many families feel more comfortable with a wean versus sudden stopping.

If symptoms resume, restart the NAC. (Note: This is my own version of what to do — I have not found guidance in the studies I’ve read. If anyone knows anything more specific, please comment below so we can all learn!) I did see one case report of a person treated for 6 months with NAC and the symptoms did not return for a full month after stopping NAC.

Is NAC safe?

Side effects are rare, but may include gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, nausea, rash, vomiting and fatigue.

One study of AIDS patients used 8000 mg of NAC per day, showing overall safety at high doses. This is NOT the dose recommended for hair pulling, skin picking, and most psychiatric and neurologic disorders.

Some studies suggest kidney stones are more common at higher doses, but taking high doses of Vitamin C at the same time as each NAC dose can help prevent kidney stones from forming.

A supplement of Vitamin B6 has also been recommended by some because NAC increases the body’s use of Vitamin B6, but most children can get plenty of this vitamin from a healthy diet. Many foods are rich in B6, including fish, beef, poultry, fruits (not citrus fruits), vegetables, and grains. Vitamin B6 is also in most multivitamins, so if you choose to supplement, a standard multivitamin would be considered safe.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you plan on doing mega doses of vitamins, as that can sometimes be harmful.

What else is NAC used for?

When I was a pediatric resident, we used NAC for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdoses. I hadn’t thought of it for many years, then a few years ago I started to hear of it being used for other things.

Research for using NAC for a variety of psychiatric and neurologic disorders in addition to trichotillomania is promising. There is evidence that NAC works for some symptoms involved with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, cocaine and cannabis (marijuana) addiction, bipolar disorder, depression, nail biting, skin picking, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, drug-induced neuropathy and progressive myoclonic epilepsy.

For kids who can’t swallow pills, there is an effervescent tablet that I’ve heard works well. PharmaNac has 900 mg per tablet, and their website recommends 2-4 tablets per day. Note: Their website mentions a potential issue with some antibiotics and NAC, but those claims have been disputed. It would not be wrong to separate dosing of antibiotic and NAC, but it might not be an issue.

As the leaves fall and the wind blows, I know that I will start seeing kids with smiles bigger than life due to red swollen chapped lips. Parents frequently bring kids in year after year with this “recurrent rash” that comes every dry season and goes away (or at least improves) in the Spring. Licking your lips is the most common way to get drier lips!

Licking your lips leads to dryness

Dry lips are a problem that tends to worsen with the treatment that comes most naturally: licking your lips.

Saliva contains enzymes that break down food you eat — or the lips you are licking.

It also damages regular skin, so the skin around the lips dries if licked, the skin on the neck and chest are affected in droolers, and thumbs or fingers can get really chapped if they are sucked this time of year.

The same theories discussed below can be used to treat other dry skin worsened by saliva.

What can help?

First, stop licking your lips!

I know that’s easier said than done, especially for kids with a strong licking habit.

If you catch them licking, offer a lip balm or suggest that they drink some water.

Remember to praise them if they make a choice to do anything other than lick!

Licking lips leads to more dryness and irritation.

Add water to the air

Adding humidity to the air helps and doesn’t require child participation (since they resist so much of what we do).

Even if you have a whole-home humidifier, add a vaporizer or humidifier to the bedrooms each night.

More lip balm tips:

Keep the balm handy throughout the day and be sure to apply after brushing teeth before bed.

To avoid sharing germs, everyone should have his own, and I prefer sticks versus anything you dip your fingers into.

It is okay to apply the balm or ointment to the skin surrounding the lips if needed– for those kids who have a wide area they lick around the lips!

Many parents ask if their kids will become addicted to the lip balm. Simple answer: No. They might use it more frequently as they get used to the idea of using it instead of licking their lips when they feel dry, but that is a good habit, not an addictive behavior.

As soon as the weather warms up, we don’t feel our lips being as dry, so we use the balm less often.

Avoid evaporation.

Mouth breathing dries the lips, so try to get kids to breathe through their nose.

Keep the wind off the lips with a scarf. The wind increases the evaporation of water from the skin, drying it out.